Apparatus for expressing liquids from solids.



J. J. BERRIGAN.

APPARATUS POP PXPRBSSING LIQUIDS PROM svoLIDs.

Llsoyol.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1911.

Patented 1vmr.9,1915.y

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. J. BERRIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR EXBRESSING LIQUIDS FROM soLIDs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1911.

1,1 30,701. Patented Mar'. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wwwa/mao J. J. BERRIGAN.

APPARATUS POR BXPRBSSING LIQUIDS PROM soLIDs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, 1911.

in, f lm JOI-IN J. BERRIGAN, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 HENRY R. 4'YWOIR/.lHIlTGfTON,

-A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOB. EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

Macael. i

T0 all wh om it may concern:

Be it known -that I, JOHN J. BnRRiGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in' the county of Essex Aand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Ex.

excessively finely divided condition, arey typical of the classes of material just referred to, as are also the slopsfrom beer stills, cane juice,-etc. Great difficulty has been encountered heretofore in the filtration of such liquids. 0f course, such filtration can be done in a laboratory way on a small scale, but, so far as I am aware, it has been difficult-if not impossible-f-to filter certain liquids of the type mentioned, in an economical manner, on a scale sufficiently large yto permit of its being carried out in commercial practice.

When working with the diiicultly filtrable liquids, -of the type hereinbeforepointed out, by ordinary methods', it has been found 'that the almost iinpalpably fine solids tend to clog the ordinary filtering cloths and thereby prevent the passage of liquid through' the same. If pressure is applied to hasten the flow of liquid, much of the fine solids pass through a filter cloth even of the finest kind with comparative ease,there being little or no separation of solids from the liquid.

I have discovered that if, instead of trying to filter 'such mixtures of liquid and finely divided solids directly throughy avery fine cloth, a somewhat coarser cloth be interposed between the material to be expressed and the fine cloth, and the material be then subjected to pressure, there is substantially no tendency for the finely divided solids to pass through such a plurality of filtering media. lVith this arrangementof filtering media, upon the application of pressure in a reasonable amount, the liquid can be expressed from the solids and will pass through the filtering media without clog- Specication of Letters Patent.

ging the same. Furthermore, the liquid under such suitable pressure passes through v'the filtering media at a suiiiciently rapid rate for commercial operation while at the same time being practically free from the solids. I am notable to state why an apparatus embodying this arrangement of filter ,cloths and proper means for applying pressurethereto should give such clean separation of solids and liquids when working on slimes and similar materials of the type hereinbefore referred to, which were considered almost impossible to handleby ordinary expressing methods. lVhatever may be the theoretical explanation of process, it has been found by repeatedpractical tests that it does produce the results described, and I content myself with noting the observed facts without yattempting to explain them.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a pressing apparatus particularly adapted for taking advantage of the discov- Patented ar. 9, i915.

Application mea August 22, 191i. seriai No. 645,407.

ery made by me as hereinbefore pointed out Y and, with this object in View, an apparatus embodying my invention comprises the features, details' of construction and combination of parts which will first be described in lconnection with the accompanying drawings and then'more particularly pointed out. 4The apparatus herein disclosed avoids the defects inherent in vpresses hithertov proposed for employment in connection with materialsV such as I have mentioned, and provides means for applying pressure in a gradual and regulable manner whereby liquids may be expressed from slimes and the like with greatv efficiency, while at the same time, the liquid expressed i's substantially free of finely divided solids. In atypical embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a pair of press plates, which are advantageously of metal and relatively massive and heavy, arranged in Ithe'form of an` inverted V with their upper edges adj ustably hinged, latclied, or otherwise pivotallyl secured together to form a press chamber suitable to inclose filtering material such as a filter bag or the like. The press chamber thus formed is so mounted as to be capable of a general up and down movement. Members, such as levers, carried on a supporting frame work, and best connected to each other, engage the press lates in such manner that upon descent o the press chamber as a whole, these members operate to force 1'13 l larly advantageous results. I may employ,

forexample, a plurality of superimposed cloth bags to inclose the liquid-containing material, the texture of the cloth being different in the different bags. Contrary to the usual practice, I arrange these bags so that the coarsest textured cloth is next the material to be pressed, while the finest cloth i Ais on lthe outside and -is next the pressing plates.` Such a reversed arrangement of the filter cloths I have found to give a better and more complete separation of liquids from finely divided solids than has hitherto been deemed possible.

In the accompanying drawings I have 3o shown more or less diagrammatically certain assemblages of apparatus elements embodying the present invention. In this showing, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a press unit, comprising a single pair of pressing members, ready for-"the application o f pressure; Fig. 2 is an .end elevation of a modified type of press units comprising two pairs of pressing-members, the units being shownin filling position; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of 4o the apparatus of Fig. 1 in. pressing phase; Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe showing of Fig. 3; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail modiiications partly in section and partly inf elevation. v Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings', 1 is a framework supporting the press units, of which there may-be one as shown, or a plurality. suspending arms or links 2 and 3 are pivoted at 2a and 3a to the framework. Arms 2 are pivotally joined at 4 to members 5, while arms 3 are similarly con nected at 6 to members 7, the members or lever arms 5 and 7 being pivotally joined as at 8. Press member 9 is pivotally mounted at 10 on members 5, coperating press element 11 being similarly mounted at 12 on members 7. These press elements are best of considerable. weight and are most conveniently vsolid iron castings. The mounting 6u fortheepress plates thus comprises a plurality of compound levers, each such lever consisting of pivotally united sections, and being pivotally connected to a side end of a press plate and pivotally supported by the framework 0f the press. A pair of such AFig. 5 the pinch of the press chamber is Fine mesh filter cloth 13 next the working faces of the press plates and cloth 14 of somewhat coarser texture form a double 75 filtering bag, the upper edges of the cloths being removably secured by pins or hooksy 15 at the back andv toward the upper edges of the press plates.

Hooks 17 on one of the press elements en- 80 gagingA pins 18 on the other element serve as latches to hold the upperedges of the press elements together and form a V- shaped pressing chamber. 19 is a drip pan to collect expressed liquid. The press unit is held out of pressing phase against the force of gravity by means of movable supporting members such as hydraulic rams 20 arranged at each end of the transversely extending unit. The ram chamber 21 is pro- 90 vided with an inlet pipe 22 having'a check valve 23, andis also furnished with an outlet pipe 24 having a faucet or drip cock 25 for regulating the outflow of liquid from the ram chamber- Each pair of ram chambers may be connected with an equalizing pipe if desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, in which the filter cloths are omitted, two pairs of press elelnents are mounted together in one unit. Members 5 and 7 instead of being pivoted together directly are connected by a linking member 26 carrying pivotally mounted press plates 27 and 2S coperating with plates 29 and-30 respectively. Arm 2 is pivotally held .by .collar bearing 31 on shaft 32 suitably mounted on the press frame; while arm 3 is pivotally secured to threaded collar 33 engaging threads 34 on the shaft. Pins 35 bearing against plate 36 limit the upward movement of the suspending arms. The purpose of this arrangement will be later referred to. y

- As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, it is convenient to provide the coperating press elements or plates near their upper edges with sealing means such as abutting strips 37 and 38 which may be of rubber and steel respectively, or both strips may be ofrubber. In

small, but where a wider pinch is desired, either of the sealing strips may be enlarged to any desired extent as shown in Fig. 6.

l If desired the opening between the lower edges of the press plates may be closed as shown in Fig. 5 by sealing plates 39 pivoted at the ends of their upper edges to the press plates as at40 and pivotally secured to- .gether at the ends of their lower edges by' latches or other fastening means, not shown.

I Sealing strips 41 are also best provided and these may be both of rubber, for example, or either may be of metal. The sealing plates serve to prevent outward bulging of the press cakes under pressure. With the lower part of the press chamber thus sealed, the outer or ne filter clothmay simply be placed against the press and sealing plates as shown instead lof being made into bag form. And indeed, 'where the press chamber is not sealed below, itis not essential need be in bag form, but each may be in Aseparate sections with their upper and lower margins held between sealing-strips 37 and 41 respectively and extending therebeyond a convenient distance and secured to the plates by pins or other fastening means if desired. When the edges of the sealing plates are separated, the press cake drops out, leaving both the fine and coarse cloths suspended 'by their upper margins. y

For some kinds of work it is convenient to .provide means for filling the press chamber without opening it at the top. Thus one or more pipes 41a valved at 42 may enter the chamber and project through alined openings in the filter cloths, gasketing means 43 being best provided to prevent leakage of solids around these openings. After a compression, the press chamber may be elevated to spread the press plates apart, more wet material may be forced into the chamber through 41*l and pressure again applied. 1t is usually desirable to score the working faces of the press plates with grooves to vpermit free passage of liquid over thepressing surfaces. Ur, and very conveniently, perforated false faces, or screens 44 (Fig. 7 spaced away from the plates as by spacing members 45 may be employed in lieu of the grooving.

Suitable means may also be provided advantageously to close or seal the vends of the press-chamber, as well as the top and bottom, and thus prevent lateral squeezing out of the press cake. Such' means may be of any desired type, but very conveniently take theform of collapsible end walls or diaphragms 46 (Fig. 6), similar to the end closures disclosed in my copending applications Serial Nos. (329,433 and 629,434, filed May 25, 1911 (now Patents Nos. 1,018,957 and 1,018,958 of February 27, 1912). "These end seals or walls may be constructed of leaves or strips of sheet metal adapted to slide over one another as the press walls approximate or sepa- `rate;fo`r they may be made of stout cloth, re-

inforced or not with metal, and arranged to fold 'up like a bellows..

The operation of the apparatus will be readily 'understood vfrom the foregoing description.

The press unit kor units 'being held'up in lillin'g position, each 'press chamber lis opened as shown in Fig. 2, and the filter Vcloths arranged as already described; the ner cloth beinga'dvantageously next the working face of 'each plate. For many kinds of material, only one cloth may of course be required; but where the press is being used to carry out the process hereinbefore described,'cloths of different finene'ss are as a rule essential. The4 material to be expressed is then placed in the bag formed by the filter cloth or cloths and the upper edges of the plates are brought "together and held Vin `place by the latches. Where lower sealing plates are used, these are of course latched together before 'pressure is applied. Faucets 25 are now Opened to permit a regulated flow of Water from the ram chambers, the rapidity of this flow depending entirely upon the speed with which itis desired to apply the pressure. The iow may be restricted toa certain number of drops per minute, or it may be in a continuous stream of any convenient volume. For gluten land grape juice slimes, a verylslow flow is best. The press elements or plates being very heavy as a rule, the press unit sinks as the liquid in the ram chamber iows out, arms 5 and 7 forming a progressively smaller angle during the descent and the lower edges of the press plates being 'therebv forced toward each other into pressing relation. In the apparatus of Fig. 2, the member 26 maintains a substantially `horizontal position during this operation.

With either formof the apparatus'a' regulated gravital descent of the press members is thus obtainable, which may be as gradual as desired. The greatest pressure occurs of course at the pinch,vnear the point where the plates are locked together; land the pressure gradually diminishes over the plate surfaces toward the lower edges. rlhe iinal position of a press unit is shown in Fig. 4 where the ram has descended to about its lowest point. The ram head may of course be connected to the press unit' in such a manner as to exert a positive downward pull after the unit has descended as far as it will by gravity, thus giving a final squeeze to the material in the press bag. 0r pressure may be applied inwardly from each side at 4 and 6 causing the jointed framework to give an vincreased toggle eHect and force the pressv trated in Fig. 2. By rotating the shaft in the proper direction, the'threaded collar or nut 33 may be caused to move along the shaft toward collar 31, thus causing arm 3 to exert a pull on member 7 which acts like a lever to force the press plates closer together. After the material has been pressed to the desired extent, the press unit is raised to its original position, with members 5 and 7 (Fig. l) or 5, 26 and 7 (Fig. 2) in a horizontal or convexed position, the press plates spreading apart and the press chamber opening up. The securing latches are then unhooked, allowing the upper.v edges of the press plates to be spread apart, and the cloths to be removed from their fastenings and dropped together with the press' cake out of the press. Fresh cloths may. then be fastened in place, and a fresh load of materialplaced inthe unit. The press cakes are separated from the cloths very readily, and the cloths are easily cleansed. -Upon raising the press units after a pressing phase and releasing the pressure on the press cake,

the expansion of the compressed cake tends to draw air inwardly through the cloths, thus opening up the .meshes of the fabric. The cake also tends to break up and become more or less comminuted. lt is possible therefore, and, as before stated, often convenient, not to dump the press cake after each pressing phase, but simply to add more of the wet material to the chamber containing the expressed cake and repeat the pressing. This may be repeated until the PI'GSS cake becomes inconvenientlv large.-

As many press units may be mounted on a single frame as convenience requires. And the pressure due to gravity may 'be supplemented, as before stated, by additional pressure applied at various points of the a'pparatus. As a rulehowever the pressure due to the dead weight of the heavy press plates is ample for the vpresent purposes, and particularly in separating slimes. Other means than hydraulic rams may 0f course be used to llift the units into filling position. The press cakeresulting from the pressing operation hereinbefore described either with or without the inclosing filter cloth may 'be further pressed if necessary in any convenient type of press, most advantageously in one having transverse press bars of the type described in my copending applications above mentioned and also in fatent 994,632.

Vhat l claim isz- 1. In a press, a press unit comprising cooperating press members, a plurality of filtering media of different degrees of fineness arranged between said members, the finest of said filtering media being disposed next the working faces of said press members,

and means for forcing one of said plates toward the other. v

2. ln a press, a press unit comprising a pair of coperating press plates, coarse and fine filter cloths disposed between said plates, the coarse cloth being arranged to contact directly with material to be pressed and to separate the line cloth from contact with such material, and means for forcing said press plates toward each other.

3. In a press, a press element comprising a pair of press plates pivotally joined along adjacent edges to form a V-shaped chamber, and sealing plates covering the broad end of said chamber, said sealing plates being pivotally connected to said pressure plates and vto each other.

4. Apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, comprising a supporting framework, pivotally connected members supported by said framework, and coperating press members pivoted upon certain of said connected members and arranged to be brought into and out of pressing relation by the movement of said connecting members.

5. Apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, comprising a supporting framework, pivotally connected members supported by 'saidframework, and a V-shaped press chamsolids, comprising a supporting framework,

links pivoted on said framework, lever arms pivotally connected to each other and to said links, and a pair of coperating press plates forming a V-shaped press chamber pivotally p mounted onsaid lever arms, said lever arms being arranged 'to descend gravitally and to force said press platesinto pressing relation.

7. Apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, comprising flexibly' connected supporting members, and coperating Ipress members pivoted on certain of said supporting members and forming a press chamber having movable walls, said press chamber being so mounted upon said supporting Amembers as to be bodily movable in a substantially vertical plane withl lateral apx proximation of said walls.

8. Apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, comprising a supporting frame, flexibly linked supporting members depending from said frame, and a press chamber havling movable walls supported by said linked supporting members',l said supporting members being arranged to raise said press cham- 'ber bodily and t0 cause mutual recession of the chamber walls, or to lower said chamber and to cause mutual approximation of said walls.

9. Apparatus forexpressing liquids from solids, comprising a supporting frame, flexibly linked supporting members depending ing material to be pressed to the press chamv ber thus covered.

11. A press comprising a pair of coperating substantially vgrtical press plates, a mounting therefr comprising a plurality of pivotally supported swinging members pivotally united to opposite ends of said plates, each of said swinging members comprising pivotally united sections, and means for raising and lowering the assemblage of plates and swinging members to vary the distance between such plates.

12. A press comprising a pair of coperatiiig substantially vertical press plates, a mounting therefor comprising a plurality of pivotally supported lswinging members pivotally united to opposite ends of said plates, each of said swinging members coinprising two pivotally united sections, means for raising and lowering the assemblage of plates and membersl to vary -the distance between .such plates and a filter device be-.

tween such plates.

A press comprising a pair of coperating substantially vertical press plates, a mounting therefor comprising a plurality of pivotally supported swinging members pivotally united in pairs to each other and to opposite ends of said platcs each of said swinging members comprising two pivotally united sections, means for raising and lowering the assemblage of plates and members to vary the distance between such plates and a bag filter between such plates.

14. A press comprisin a pair of coperating substantially vertical press plates, a mounting therefor comprising pivotally supported swinging means pivotally united to opposite ends of said plates, said swinging means comprising pivotally united sections, and hydraulic means for raising and lowering the assemblage of plates and swinging means to vary the distance between such plates.

15. Apparatus for eapressing liquids from v solidsA comprising a pair of coperating press plates in substantially verticalarrangement and provided with means for ivotally connecting their upper edges, an ilegible su f porting means or said plates permitting t e same to move upwardly and downwardly,

the connection of the supporting means to said plates being such that when the plates movedqwnwardly the lower edges of the plates mutually approach, and when the plates move upwardly said edges mutually recede. y

16. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with coperating pressing members mounted for gravital movement downward, and means for causing the downward movement of the pressing members to bring said members closer together, of controllable power means arranged to check the downward movement of the pressing members.

17. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with coperating pressing members mounted for gravital movement downward and having their pressing faces in planes extending in a general upward direction, and means for causing the downward movement of said pressing members to bring them closer together, of controllable power means for checking said downward movement.

18. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, withcoperating pressing members arranged side by side and gravitally movable'downward, and means for connecting said pressing members for angular movement relative to each other, of power means for moving said pressing members upward, and mechanism arranged to move sai'd pressing members angularly toward each other during their downward movement, and to separate them during their upward movement.

19. Iii a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of cooperating pressing members mounted for movement downward under the action of a vertical force. said members having pressing vfaces extending in a. general upward direction, and means for pivotally connecting said pressing members together, of means for causing the downward movement of the pressing members to produce an angular movement of said pressing members about their pivotal connection and toward each other.

20. In a pressing apparatus, the combination` with a pair of coperating pressing members mounted for ascending and d'escending movements bodily, and means for pivotally connecting said'members together, of means for causing the ascending and descending movements of the pressing mem- ,bers to produce angular movements of said pressing members, about their pivotal connection, from land toward each other respectively.

21.Y -In a pressing apparatus, the combination, .with a pair of cooperating pressing members, and means for connecting said pressing members for angular movements relative to each other, of fulcrumed supporting devices arranged to permit the -rise and fall of said pressing membersv and to produce corresponding angular movements of said pressing members from and toward each other respectively, whereby the downward movement of the members under the action of gravity produces pressure on the pressing members to move themangularly toward each other.

22. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of coperating pressing members having their pressing faces in planes extending in a general upward direction, said members being mounted for 'Lgravital movement downward, means Afor connecting said pressing members for angulanmovement relative to eachother, and means for causing the downward movement of said members to produce an angular movement of the members toward each other, of a device bridging the space between the pressing members and forming a support for material between said pressing members.

23. In a pressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of coperating pressing memberswhose pressing faces lie in planes extending in a general upward direction, means for connecting said pressing members for angular movement relative to each other, and means for moving said pressing members toward andl from each other angularly, of a collapsible sealing device connected to each pressing member and arranged tosupport' material between the pressing faces'.

24. 'In a vpressing apparatus, the combination, with a pair of coperating -pressing members whose pressing faces lie in planes extending in a general upward direction, means for connecting said pressing members for angular movement relative to each other, and means for moving said pressing members toward vand from each other, angularly, of collapsible sealing devices at the sides of said pressing members and connected thereto.

. 25. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the. combination, with coperating pressing members, of filtering media arranged to inclose the material to -be pressed and located ybetween said pressing members, said filtering media comprising a `plurality of fabrics of different degrees of fineness, arrangedr one inside another, the exterior bers to subject the material to pressure greater toward one end than toward the other end of the pressing members.

27. In anapparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with a pair of coperating pressingmembers, means for pivotallyconnecting them together inb a manner to permit an angular movement of said pressing members toward and from each other, and means for 'pressing said members toward each other, of filtering media located between said pressing 1neII1- bers and arranged to inclose the material to be pressed, said filtering media comprising y a plurality of fabrics of different degrees of fineness, arranged one inside another, the exterior fabric being finer than the interior fabric.

28. In an apparatus for expressing liquids from solids, the combination, with a pair of coperating members having their pressing faces in planes extending in upward directions, said members being mounted for gravital movement downward, and means for causing said downward movement to force the members toward each other yieldc ingly, of filtering media located between said pressingmembers and arranged to Jinclose the material to be pressed, said filtering media comprising a plurality of fabrics of different degrees of ineness arranged one inside another, the'exterior fabric being finer than the interior fabric.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing wit-y JHN J BERRIGAN.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN H. YVILLIAMS, JOHN H. TREN'T. 

